Imrah waited until his granddaughter was well and truly gone before he turned his attention to the man before him. The freeman, was not overly tall, but fairly scruffy. His hair and beard looked like he had cut it himself with a dull blade. His grey eyes watched Imrah as Imrah watched him. The clothes he wore were patched, some of the stitching suggested they had been patched by the man himself while other patches showed a level of skill this man would never have. Imrah noted the subtle shake to the other man's hands along with the knife scars that ran along them. Not unlike the scars that decorated his granddaughter's hands, he thought with a wince.

"You are the man called, Twitchy?"

"Yes sir, yer grace." His words were said with deference, but the look in the man's eyes made it clear he had no respect for Imrah.

"The young lady claims that you would be best suited to a task that needs to be done."

He shrugged, "If Arie thinks so, probably true."

Raoul cleared his throat as if sensing the tension between the two men. "Arie told me about the mob that attacked her. She suspects someone is trying to poison them. Either as vengeance for what happened to her or; I think also possible, to frame her. We need someone to check out the people involved. Quietly. But I wasn't aware you had the Gift."

Twitchy grunted and shrugged, "A little. I get a feelin when I'm 'round someone who's got the poison. Nothin flashy enough to need teachin." It was a subtle dig, Imrah was sure of it.

"And would you know who all acted against her?" There was more than a little censure in Imrah's voice. There were a number of things he wished to demand of this man, but Arie herself seemed very un-inclined to claim any relationship. And if Imrah were honest, he wasn't surprised. She would want to protect those she considered 'her people', and Imrah could see himself being viewed as threat to those people.

Twitchy shrugged, "I have thoughts on who might have been part." Twitchy clenched his fists. It was the first sign that Twitchy might have agreed with who was taking out those involved.

"And you won't tell us." It was a statement. The other man's eyes rose to meet Imrah's own. There was amusement in Twitchy's eyes that held a dark edge to it.

"Nobles have a way of muckin things up when it comes to us lesser folk. Leaves a sour taste with most. No disrespect meant, Your Grace." The last part was an afterthought and clearly meant to be disrespectful. If Imrah had been a different man he could have ordered this man whipped, but as it was, Imrah found he respected Twitchy even if just a little for it.

"None taken. I expect you to report to me, Raoul, and Arie. But do so discreetly. I'm sure a man of your," he paused with a thin smile on his face, "trade, can manage that."

Twitchy stiffened and nodded curtly. "If that's all, I'll be leavin." Twitchy stood and started walking towards the door without even waiting for the lords to give their leave.

"Was Anna happy?" The question popped out of Imrah's mouth before he could even consider the implications of voicing such a question.

Twitchy froze with his hand on the door. It seemed to Imrah that the man had somewhat deflated like sails with no wind. "That, would be a question for her."

"I'm asking you."

He shrugged, "Last I saw she was smiling." Then left. Even Imrah couldn't hear his footsteps as the freeman fled the room.

Raoul got up and looked around the hallway before closing the door. The expression on the younger noble's face was thoughtful as he sat back down. "Why do I have the feeling that a lot more just happened here than you giving that man a mission?"

Imrah grunted, "Because you're generation looks too closely at things."

A slight smile tugged at Raoul's lips. "True, but I find something interesting."

"Oh?" There was a warning and censure in Imrah's voice that the younger knight either didn't hear or ignored.

"Yes, Arie, when she gave her name, she gave us the sir name Annasari. If I recall correctly that is Galic for Anna's daughter. I wonder if there is a connection?"

Imrah snorted. "Stop fishing, it is unbecoming of your status."

Now Raoul laughed, "I've certainly haven't been accused of unbecoming behavior before." Then he sighed. "What's going on Your Grace? Why are you trying to keep your connection hidden?"

"I'm not." Imrah snapped. He immediately sighed and rubbed his face. "I'm sorry."

Raoul shrugged. "I see nothing to apologize for."

"She wants nothing to do with me. And from what I've gathered I can't blame her."

"I'm not sure I understand. It's not your fault that she was forced to leave behind her home."

Imrah was shaking his head long before Raoul finished. "No. I sent some of my people to look for Anna. One came back with a information that a child that looked like Anna came here seeking help. She was turned away, after that people were unwilling to tell my people anything. I think she came here looking for help for Anna. If that is the case it is very possible that she came to get help for her mother. Would that not mean that her being turned away would be my fault?"

"You can't know everything that goes on here. Some servant could have thought she was some con trying to take advantage of you and your family."

"Or my wife."

Raoul blinked. "Do you think she would do that?"

"If Anna was truly sick, I don't think so."

"But," Raoul prompted.

Imrah glared at him. "But, she and Anna didn't get along. She believed I was to gentle with my daughter, and I think she is jealous of my first wife."

Raoul made an O face. "Yes, I could see that being hard on anyone, but she loves you. Even a blind man can see that." Raoul ran a hand through his hair. "How is she by the way?"

"I don't know, she refuses to see me, and her nurse can't say what's wrong."

Raoul scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe we can ask Sir Neal to look at her tomorrow."

"Tomorrow then."